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Captain James Cook gave the Fiji Islands the name "Fiji" essentially due to a misunderstanding with Fiji's close neighbors the Tongans. Fijians originally called their islands "Viti". A Fijian person also refers to themselves as "Kaiviti" where "Kai" means "from" and "Viti" being the indigenous name of the Fiji Islands. This is also seen with the name of Fiji's largest island "Viti Levu" roughly translating to "Big Viti". While exploring the region, Captain Cook first happened upon the Tongan Islands. As he asked the Tongans what island neighbored theirs, referring to the Fiji Islands, they answered him "Viti". However due to their accent, the pronunciation of "Viti" sounded like "Fiji" resulting in Captain Cook recording the islands as the "Fiji Islands".
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoCaptain James Cook gave the Fiji Islands the name "Fiji" essentially due to a misunderstanding with Fiji's close neighbors the Tongans. Fijians originally called their islands "Viti". A Fijian person also refers to themselves as "Kaiviti" where "Kai" means "from" and "Viti" being the indigenous name of the Fiji Islands. This is also seen with the name of Fiji's largest island "Viti Levu" roughly translating to "Big Viti". While exploring the region, Captain Cook first happened upon the Tongan Islands. As he asked the Tongans what island neighbored theirs, referring to the Fiji Islands, they answered him "Viti". However due to their accent, the pronunciation of "Viti" sounded like "Fiji" resulting in Captain Cook recording the islands as the "Fiji Islands".
Abel Tasman a Dutch explorer first saw and discovered the islands but never sat foot on the islands due to cannibalism.
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What was the Fiji's name before it was actually named Fiji?
FIJI has foe ever been FIJI
What is the name for Fiji's money?
Fiji money
What is the birth name of Fiji?
Fiji's birth name is George Veikoso.
What is the name of Fiji's stadium?
Post Fiji Stadium
What is Fiji's official name?
Republic of the Fiji IslandsThe Sovereign Republic of the Fiji Islands.
What is the name of Fiji's rugby stadium?
Post Fiji Stadium
Are there differences between the poor and the rich in Fiji?
The poor gets poorer and the rich gets richer.
What games do Fiji participate?
you name it fiji can play all games!!
What is the name of a desert in Fiji?
Fiji has a humid tropical climate and no deserts.
Where did Cyclone Yasi get its name from?
Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi was given its name in Fiji. The cyclone started as a tropical low near Fiji, and when it was upgraded to a cyclone, it was given a Fijian name by the Fiji Meteorological Service.
What is the name of Fiji's football team?
Well it depends on which Fiji team you are talking about. There are 3 Fiji Football teams. I only know one of them. The one I know is the Fiji carriBEANERS
What is the Fiji dollars name?
dollar
